COVINGTON -- Three Eastside High School students have been arrested and charged with violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorist Prevention Act in connection with an alleged attack that took place in the school locker room.

Jamal Demarcus Cody, 17, of 5181 Turner St., Martavius Boatwright, 17, of 3225 of N. West St., and a 15-year-old juvenile were arrested following a fight involving a 15-year-old victim.

"The (15-year-old) juvenile alleged he was jumped in the locker room of the gym by several boys," said Newton County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Courtney Morrison. "He said he believed he was jumped on because the people involved thought he had snitched about an incident that occurred about a week before involving some graffiti that was on the school building."

Morrison said the only apparent injuries from the altercation was a bloody nose sustained by the victim.

Morrison said as the school resource officer investigated the incident which occurred just as school was dismissing for the day Friday, the alleged gang affiliation came to light.

"There was some evidence to suggest that the individuals involved in jumping the young man were members of a hybrid gang known as DTF," Morrison said. "This led investigators to believe this was gang-related and the boys were charged under the gang act which is a felony."